In 1865, a military fortress was built on the left bank of the Anhor, near the Qaytmas Gate. Surrounded by high earth mounds and fragments of brick walls, the fortress could be entered through three gates. The main one — the eastern gate, the most beautiful — has been preserved to this day and is one of the capital’s tourist attractions.

In the 1970s, the former fortress territory became home to the “Pioneer” park, featuring amusement rides and a cinema. Children who strolled here would inevitably climb the preserved gates.

In the 1990s, the First President’s residence, Oqsaroy, was built on the site of the park. Now, this area is the “Islam Karimov Scientific and Educational Memorial Complex,” where visitors can view a photo exhibition and paintings dedicated to the First President, stroll through a beautiful garden, and photograph those eastern gates.

By the way, it’s also possible to approach the gates from the outside — by passing through the nine-story buildings leading to the avenue known among locals as the “Blue Domes.”

As we examine the gates, we forget their military purpose. Their ornate brickwork, characteristic of “Russian Turkestan” buildings, gives them a beautiful and almost mythical appearance.